Great Basin
- Patient Status
- Former
- Date Found
- September 22, 2022
- Location
- Duke Energy Power Plant; Pinellas County
- Reason for Rescue
- Caught in an intake at the Power Plant and entanglement
Initial Assessment
- Weight
- 5.23 kg (11.5 lbs)
- SCL (Straight Carapace Length)
- 37.5 cm
- Exam Findings
- Alert but not very active. Large amount of seagrass and other epibiota present. Fishing line entanglement around fibropapilloma tumors. Severe tumor on left eye.
- Initial Treatment
- vitamin injections, antibiotics, and fluids.
Great Basin’s Story
Great Basin is a juvenile green sea turtle who was found stuck in an intake at Duke Energy Power Plant on September 22. Great Basin also had fishing line entangled around the severe fibropapilloma tumor on the left eye.
INTERESTING FACT: Great Basin is named after the Great Basin area in Nevada, USA.
Treatment Updates
- 9.24.22
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Great Basin was swim tested for the first time, no signs of buoyancy issues! Placed in a kiddie pool due to lethargy to help achieve better breaths.
- 9.27.22
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Great Basin is able to be in water all day and overnight! Currently monitoring appetite. Continuing to do glucose checks and giving fluids as needed.
- 10.1.22
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Great Basin has started eating and has now progressed out of kiddie pool and into deep water and is able to rest on the bottom!
- 10.21.22
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Great Basin is continuing to eat well and gain weight!
- 11.22.22
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Great Basin went for a recheck CT to check for signs of disease progression prior scheduling first surgery. We are saddened to say that Great Basin had developed internal tumors and was humanely euthanized. A necropsy was completed to help learn about this case.
All marine turtle footage taken in Florida was obtained with the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) under conditions not harmful to marine turtles. Footage was acquired while conducting authorized conservation activities pursuant to FWC MTP-21/22-172A.